Rotary air compressor

ABSTRACT

A Rotary Air Compressor built into the air space of a compressed air container, performs suction and air re-cycling, converts the pressurized air outflow through spiral turbine-rotor to assist its own driven shaft in the rotation. A powered shaft having an impeller draws air into a pressureless hollow member defining a chamber through which the shaft extends, the chamber has an air passage outlet in communication with the compressed air container. Air is moved through the passageway by an air transfer means, which includes a stationary wall having a circularly arranged ring of gear teeth, partly covered by a channeled cover on the shaft, which includes two freely rotatable seal gears registering with the ring of gear teeth. The channels in the cover communicates at times with at least one of the ring of gear teeth cavities which is sealed as the rotatable cover moves over the cavity, whereupon it is exposed to the compressed air container and forced out by the teeth on the seal gear, which then leaves a vacuum in the teeth cavities to receive additional air from the channel communicating with the hollow member defining a chamber, whereupon the cycle is repeated. The air may be drawn into the hollow member defining a chamber by the impeller or airscrew from the atmosphere, or may enter as a recycling air through valveless inlet openings which are provided, or from both in the same time. A flywheel also provided on the shaft to assist in the rotation thereof and in sealing the back of the channels in the rotating cover. Vanes may also be provided on the powered shaft at the air outlet opening in the compressed air container to further assist in the turning of the already powered shaft as air is released from the air pressurized container.

United States Patent [1 1 Richter Aug. 19, 1975 ROTARY AIR COMPRESSOR [76] Inventor: Lewis Richter, 1414 E. 29th St., Des

Moines, Iowa 50317 22 Filed: Feb. 8, 1974 21 1 Appl. No.: 440,743

Primary ExaminerHenry F. Raduazo [57] ABSTRACT A Rotary Air Compressor built into the air space of a compressed air container, performs suction and air recycling, converts the pressurized air outflow through spiral turbine-rotor to assist its own driven shaft in the rotation.

A powered shaft having an impeller draws air into a pressureless hollow member defining a chamber through which the shaft extends, the chamber has an air passage outlet in communication with the compressed air container. Air is moved through the passageway by an air transfer means, which includes a stationary wall having a circularly arranged ring of gear teeth, partly covered by a channeled cover on the shaft, which includes two freely rotatable seal gears registering with the ring of gear teeth. The channels in the cover communicates at times with at least one of the ring of gear teeth cavities which is sealed as the rotatable cover moves over the cavity, whereupon it is exposed to the compressed air container and forced out by the teeth on the seal gear, which then leaves a vacuum in the teeth cavities to receive additional air from the channel communicating with the hollow member defining a chamber, whereupon the cycle is repeated. The air may be drawn into the hollow member defining a chamber by the impeller or airscrew from the atmosphere, or may enter as a recycling air through valveless inlet openings which are provided, or from both in the same time. A flywheel also provided on the shaft to assist in the rotation thereof and in sealing the back of the channels in the rotating cover. Vanes may also be provided on the powered shaft at the air outlet opening in the compressed air container to further assist in the turning of the already powered shaft as air is released from the air pressurized container.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU AUG 1 s 1975 SHEET 1 0f 3 PATENTEU m1 9 I975 SEZZET 3 BF 3 ROTARY AIR COMPRESSOR A typical air compressor involves forcing air into a compressed air chamber through use of high pressures developed by pistons or the like. The efficiency of these systems is low due to the energy losses resulting from the powered piston working against substantial pressures. The failure of component parts in the conventional air compressor is also a considerable problem.

The air compressor of this invention eliminates the pressure problems present in a conventional air compressor. The air is moved into the compressed air container by an air transfer means which operates in a static air environment and thus results in maximum efficiency. A minimum number of component parts are involved which minimizes the cost and maintenance of the air compressor. Regenerative power is exploited to further minimize power requirements for the air compressor.

More specifically, air is lead into a ring of gear teeth teeth cavities, and a rotatable channeled cover, coveres the air-filled teeth cavities until the cover is rotated thereby exposing the cavities to the compressed air container. A seal gear at the leading edges of the rotatable channeled cover, forces the air out from the teeth cavities into the compressed air container, and then the rotatable channeled cover, covers the evacuated teeth cavities until the channel opening in the rotatable cover registers with the teeth cavities to admit more air from the hollow member defining a chamber, which in turn is coveredby the rotatable cover portion until it again is exposed to the compressed air container, whereupon the cycle is repeated.

The regenerative power features include a flywheel on the powered shaft driving the impeller or airscrew in the hollow member defining a chamber and the ro tatable channeled cover and a spiral turbine-rotor or impeller mounted on the extended drive shaft in the air outlet duct of the compressed air container. Additionally, exhaust air from a receiver being powered by the air compressor is channeled back to the valveless recycling inlet openings, therethrough into the hollow member defining a chamber for transfer, by transfer means back into the compressed air container.

A preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of examle only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I shows in longitudinal cross-sectional view the preferred air compressor.

FIG. 2 shows in longitudinal view an air transfer unit in the compressor according to FIG. I.

FIG. 3 shows the externally applied turnable shut-off plate at the valved inlet openings.

FIG. 4 is an end view taken along line 2 in FIG. I.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 3 in FIG. 2 rotated fourtyfive degrees.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the air transfer unit as shown on FIG. 2 and 5.

The preferred air compressor of this invention is shown as a whole in FIG. I, in which 27 is a compressed air container which includes a compressed air outlet opening 28.

A hollow member defining a chamber I is fastened to the container 27 wall by bolts 20 (and/or as a whole unit mounted on a frame instead of on the container wall, and so placed in the container) includes a suction impeller or airscrew 8 on a shaft 7 powered by an externally located motor 36 or the like. The shaft 7 extends through the center of the chamber I and an air transfer channeled cover I3 with a flywheel I5 into the air outlet opening 28.

Valved inlet openings 3 are provided to admit air into the chamber I. The function of the suction impeller or airscrew 8 on the driving shaft 7 which is further back from the inner surface of the chamber I, is to provide the necessary suction distance for the impeller 8, serves to draw open valve element 2 to admit air from the atmosphere. Valveless air re-cycling openings 4, 4 and passageways 6, 6 in an annular duct 5 are provided to admit air from the exhaust of an air receiver (not shown) connected to the pressure outlet opening 28 in the compressed air container. A valve 37 is provided for controlling the compressed air flow from the outlet opening 28 to a receiver.

The air transfer unit is seen in detail in FIG. 6, of which surface 25 is precisely ground secured to the hollow member defining a chamber I wall I9 by screws 22, there being formed on the member 9 surface a ring of gear teeth It) therebetween cavities 29. In the center, an axial opening I1 is provided through which the powered shaft 7 extends, and air is moved.

The rotating channeled cover I3, whose surface 26 is also precisely ground is rotating sealingly upon the ring of gear teeth 10 tops on surface 23 and contains the opening II and channels I2, 12 communicating with the cavities 29 between the teeth I0 as seen in FIG. 2, and is connected to a flywheel 15, which is keyed to the powered shaft 7., by bolts 22 in hole 39. The rotatable cover I3 includes leading portions 30, 30 and trailing portions 3I, 31 and has seal gears 14, 14 which are positioned in the channeled cover in a forwardly facing opening 40, 40 in the leading portion 30, 30 for rotation freely about a pin 22. The flywheel I5 seals the outer end of the center opening 11 and one side of the channels 12, I2 in the cover 13.

Thus it is seen in operation that the suction impeller 8 draws air through the valved inlet openings 3 into the chamber I (FIG. I) and thence through the channels I2, I2 into the cavities 29 which are in communication with the channels I2, 12 through openings 24, 24' (FIG. 2 and 5), and as indicated by the arrows 34, 34 air fills the cavities 29. The ground surface 26 slides on the surface 25 and surface 23 on the ring of gear teeth Ill tops to isolate and seal the container 27 from the cavities 29 and thus the chamber I. As the cover 13 moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 5, the trailing portions 3I, 31' of the cover I3 covers the cavities 29 which are the air carriers to encapsulate the air in the cavities 29 under the trailing cover portion 31, 3I As the cover I3 continues to move in the rotating direction, the trailing portions 3I, 3I' exposes the teeth cav ities 29 allowing the atmospheric or re-cycling air to leave as indicated by the arrows 33, 33'. The seal gears I l, I l forces the air out from the cavities 29 into the compressed air container 27 as indicated by arrows 32, 32. The leading portions 30, 30 of the cover 13 then covers the cavities 29 which have been evacuated, and they are ready to receive air from the channels 12, I2 when they register with said openings 24, 24. Similarly, the cavities 35 between the teeth on the gears I4, 14 are evacuated by intermeshing with the teeth I0.

The air flows through the valved air inlet openings 3 into the chamber I past the valve element 2, is controlled by turnable shut-off air intake plate 21 (FIG. 3)

which is set before the valved inlet openings 3 at the ex ternal surface of the hollow member defining a chamber l, as seen in FIG. 1, and has openings 38 in it which are identical in size with the air inlet openings 3 for selectively registering with the same, so that when the plate 21 is in one position as indicated by the solid lines for the openings 38 the latter are open. When the shutoff plate 21 has been turned, as indicated by the dashline openings 38, the air inlet openings are closed. The shut-off plate 21 is rotatable about its seat.

The valveless inlet openings 4, 4 are for the sole purpose, in combination with the valved inlets 3 to re-cycle air from a receiver which are operating after the container has reached the desired pressure hight (e.g. 10 lbs pressure). Then the inlet openings 3 are closed with the turnable shut-off plate 21 and the air flowing from the container 27 through the orifice 28 to a receiver, is re-cycled after usage into and through the valveless openings 4, 4'. Should pressure drop occure in the con tainer 27, the inlet openings 3 are re-opencd with the external shut-off plate 21, and the extra air brought in through the inlet openings 3 with the addition of the recycling air, which means, the re-cycling air is flowing back from an exhaust, and because the valved inlet openings 3 are re-opened, atmospheric air is drawn in also, this means, two different airflows are occurring in the same time from two different directions into the same chamber 1 without interference from each other, until the desired pressure height is reached in the container 27. Then the inlet openings 3 are closed with the shut-off plate 21 again. If the valveless openings 4, 4 are not in use they be closed, and to use it again reopened by an independent shut-off valve 37.

The regenerative power developed by the flywheel l5 and spiral turbine rotor 17 in a casing 18 through which the compressed air flows is transmited through the extended drive shaft 16 serves to assist in driving the shaft 7, thereby, reducing the power requirement for the motor or the like 36. In the same time the outflowing air pressure at the orifice 28, through the constant rotation of the shaft 7 from the motor, and the rotating force applied on the spiral turbine-rotor 17 will give a higher velocity to the outflowing air, thereby a higher pressure at the smaler end of the turbine blade then it is in the container.

Thus it is seen that the apparatus of this invention, minimizes the power requirements by utilizing a novel transfer means for conveying air into a compressed air container, without piston or the like, operating against high pressures to force the air into a compressed air container. The powered shaft 7 rotates the channeled cover 13 to cause this transfer of air without having to overcome high pressure resistance, as in case of a piston type compressor. The teeth cavities 29 between the gear teeth 10 are alternately exposed by the rotating channeled cover 13 to the low pressure in the chamber 1, and then to the high pressure in the container 27 to effect the transfer of air from the channels 12, 12' to the compressed air container, whereby the atmospheric or re-cycling air is elevated to a higher level without compression.

The mating engagement of the component parts in the transfer unit, enable each of the parts to operate in absolute sealed relationship to each other, and thus prevent leakage of air.

To close, or open the compressor air flow for operating, a closing valve 37 is used as normally is used on any compressors by the spiral turbine-rotor 17 air-outflow orifice 28.

It should be understood that I do not wish to limit my invention to the above described novel association of elements and details, and that the invention is intended to include such other modification and/or substitutions readily apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates, as defined by the terms of the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A Rotary Air Compressor built into the air space of a compressed air container, performs suction and air re-cycling, converts the pressurized air outflow through spiral turbine-rotor to assist its own driven shaft in the rotation comprising:

a. a pressureless hollow member defining a chamber with air passageway, connected by bolts to the inside of said container wall in which is located an impeller or airscrew rotatable by a driven shaft extending outside said container to an external driving power communicating with the atmosphere through at least one valved inlet port located in said hollow member defining a chamber wall, said shaft extending longitudinally from said container external surface through said hollow chamber passageway into said air outlet opening and into operative engagement to rotate simultaneously, said impeller, said air transfer channeled cover, said flywheel and said spiral turbine-rotor mounted on the same shaft;

b. at least one valveless air re-cycling inlet port also located in said hollow member defining a chamber wall, is connected to an annular duct to conwey recycling air towards said impeller;

c. a stationary wall, being fixed to said hollow member defining a chamber wall with a circularly arranged plurality of teeth having air cavities therebetween meshing with freely rotating seal gears has an axial opening in its center, said stationary wall surface is ground to cooperate with said rotatable cover ground surface forming therewith a sliding seal between said two surfaces against said container pressure as atmospheric or re-cycling air flows into said teeth cavities from said communication channels;

d. a rotatable cover, covering said teeth cavities as said cover trailing portion moves thereacross is connected to a flywheel on said shaft to assist in the rotation therewith, has ground surface which slides in rubbing contact upon said teeth tops, and mounted in and upon said stationary wall ground surface to communicate through said channels in said cover with the interior of said hollow member defining a chamber and teeth cavities to displace airinto said container as said cover is rotated exposing said covered teeth cavities with atmospheric or recycling air encapsulated, to leave into said compressed air container;

e. a ring of gear teeth, having air cavities is mounted upon said stationary wall facing said container inner pressure receives air from said hollow member defining a chamber through channels to displace it into said container, and is at all times partly covered and sealed by the channeled cover;

f. an externally applied turnable shut-off air inlet plate, at said valved inlet port;

g. a freely rotating seal gear, being mounted before each communication channel outlet intermcshing with said teeth forcing air therefrom into said compressed air container in the direction of rotation leaving a vacuum in said cavities to receive addi tional air from said communication channel outlet, as said cover slidingly rotates;

h. communication channels in said rotating cover, which transfers air from the interior of said hollow member defining a chamber through said passageway by facing said teeth cavities at said channel outlet for registering with at least said one teeth cavity at each outlet as it rotates, is to said flywheel on one side sealingly connected forming therewith said closed channels;

. said driven shaft having an extension within said container, on which extension is mounted a spiral turbine-rotor or impeller, that is set into a duct, through which duct said compressed air flows to said air outlet orifice to leave said container, said turbine being arranged to assist in turning said al ready powered driven shaft as air under pressure leaves said container, said orifice being controled by an independent shut-off valve to close and open said airflow from said container.

2. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said revolving impeller draws atmospheric air through said valved inlet ports, and re-cycling air through said valveless inlet ports into said hollow memher defining a chamber.

3. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valveless inlet ports are for the sole purpose in combination with said valved inlet ports to recycle air direct from a receiver being powered by said compressor, back into said hollow member defining a chamber through said re-inlet ports, if air re-cycling is not desired be it closed by an independent shut-off valve.

4. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said inlet ports include a tumable shut-off air inlet plate which is set externally before said valved inlet ports controls said atmospheric air flow into said hollow member defining a chamber.

5. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotatable cover includes leading and trailing edges and said gears are positioned and sealed except along its leading faces at said leading edges where it includes leading faces exposed to said compressed air container, and said channel portions of said outlet is positioned between said leading and trailing edges of said cover.

6. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compressor be mounted an a frame as a whole unit instead of on said container wall, and so placed into said air space of a compressed air con- 

1. A Rotary Air Compressor built into the air space of a compressed air container, performs suction and air re-cycling, converts the pressurized air outflow through spiral turbine-rotor to assist its own driven shaft in the rotation comprising: a. a pressureless hollow member defining a chamber with air passageway, connected by bolts to the inside of said container wall in which is located an impeller or airscrew rotatable by a driven shaft extending outside said container to an external driving power communicating with the atmosphere through at least one valved inlet port located in said hollow member defining a chamber wall, said shaft extending longitudinally from said container external surface through said hollow chamber passageway into said air outlet opening and into operative engagement to rotate simultaneously, said impeller, said air transfer channeled cover, said flywheel and said spiral turbine-rotor mounted on the same shaft; b. at least one valveless air re-cycling inlet port also located in said hollow member defining a chamber wall, is connected to an annular duct to conwey re-cycling air towards said impeller; c. a stationary wall, being fixed to said hollow member defining a chamber wall with a circularly arranged plurality of teeth having air cavities therebetween meshing with freely rotating seal gears has an axial opening in its center, said stationary wall surface is ground to cooperate with said rotatable cover ground surface forming therewith a sliding seal between said two surfaces against said container pressure as atmospheric or re-cycling air flows into said teeth cavities from said communication channels; d. a rotatable cover, covering said teeth cavities as said cover trailing portion moves thereacross is connected to a flywheel on said shaft to assist in the rotation therewith, has ground surface which slides in rubbing contact upon said teeth tops, and mounted in and upon said stationary wall ground surface to communicate through said channels in said cover with the interior of said hollow member defining a chamber and teeth cavities to displace air into said container as said cover is rotated exposing said covered teeth cavities with atmospheric or recycling air encapsulated, to leave into said compressed air container; e. a ring of gear teeth, having air cavities is mounted upon said stationary wall facing said container inner pressure receives air from said hollow member defining a chamber through channels to displace it into said container, and is at all times partly covered and sealed by the channeled cover; f. an externally applied turnable shut-off air inlet plate, at said valved iNlet port; g. a freely rotating seal gear, being mounted before each communication channel outlet intermeshing with said teeth forcing air therefrom into said compressed air container in the direction of rotation leaving a vacuum in said cavities to receive additional air from said communication channel outlet, as said cover slidingly rotates; h. communication channels in said rotating cover, which transfers air from the interior of said hollow member defining a chamber through said passageway by facing said teeth cavities at said channel outlet for registering with at least said one teeth cavity at each outlet as it rotates, is to said flywheel on one side sealingly connected forming therewith said closed channels; i. said driven shaft having an extension within said container, on which extension is mounted a spiral turbine-rotor or impeller, that is set into a duct, through which duct said compressed air flows to said air outlet orifice to leave said container, said turbine being arranged to assist in turning said already powered driven shaft as air under pressure leaves said container, said orifice being controled by an independent shut-off valve to close and open said airflow from said container.
 2. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said revolving impeller draws atmospheric air through said valved inlet ports, and re-cycling air through said valveless inlet ports into said hollow member defining a chamber.
 3. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valveless inlet ports are for the sole purpose in combination with said valved inlet ports to re-cycle air direct from a receiver being powered by said compressor, back into said hollow member defining a chamber through said re-inlet ports, if air re-cycling is not desired be it closed by an independent shut-off valve.
 4. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 3, wherein said inlet ports include a turnable shut-off air inlet plate which is set externally before said valved inlet ports controls said atmospheric air flow into said hollow member defining a chamber.
 5. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotatable cover includes leading and trailing edges and said gears are positioned and sealed except along its leading faces at said leading edges where it includes leading faces exposed to said compressed air container, and said channel portions of said outlet is positioned between said leading and trailing edges of said cover.
 6. A Rotary Air Compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said compressor be mounted an a frame as a whole unit instead of on said container wall, and so placed into said air space of a compressed air container. 